Former Military dictator and ex-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential aspirant, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida today debunked media reports that he has reached an accord with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan following entreaties from the President to him to back his Presidential bid.
Babangida also restated his commitment to the highly divisive principles of zoning in the political party which the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF), a group made of up pro-zoning politicians from the north in the PDP have tirelessly pursued.
In a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Kassim Afegbua, Babangida tried to make a distinction between he an as individual and he as a member of the NPLF. While acknowledging that he has been in negotiation with the Goodluck Jonathan/Sambo Campaign organisation, the former military leader said he is still open to negotiations as no deal has been reached.
Babangida said the idea been sold that Jonathan will run for only one term as a pre condition for northern support is misleading as President Jonathan is statute-barred from contesting in 2015, if he wins the April 2011 Presidential election having been sworn-in twice.
The statement obtained by THEWILL reads in part: “We have been inundated with telephone calls and text messages from our numerous supporters nationwide over the news report that indicated that a deal had been sealed between President Goodluck Jonathan and former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. On behalf of General Ibrahim Babangida, GCFR, I wish to state that up till this date, Tuesday, 22nd February, 2011, no deal has been sealed.
“There is a clear distinction between General Ibrahim Babangida as a private citizen and the Northern Political Leaders Forum led by Mallam Adamu Ciroma. This distinction must be properly understood each time the media try to draw its conclusions. It should also be noted that General IBB has access to Mr. President and can engage him anytime in the interest of the country.
“Expectedly, any Presidential Candidate should ordinarily reach out to those he feels could enrich his campaigns and support base. It is a usual democratic and electoral practice that is not peculiar to us in Nigeria. It is also expected that when such a candidate is reaching out, certain convincing reasons would be advanced to woo his potential supporters.
“While it is not out of place for President Jonathan to reach out to people he feels could enrich his campaigns, it is out of place for the media to run into premature conclusion that a deal has been struck as if the object of political participation is to appropriate the collective destinies of Nigeria in naira and kobo. General Ibrahim Babangida is not a dealer.
“He has never been a dealer and he does not intend to be one. He is a distinguished elder statesman who is not persuaded by pecuniary benefits but a leader who is genuinely concerned about the development, unity and stability of the country.
“General Ibrahim Babangida’s understanding of the dynamics of democracy is that rule of law, collective bargaining and constructive engagement should prevail in a manner that puts the national interest far and above personal interest. He still believes in the principles and philosophy of zoning which prompted the setting up of the Northern Political Leaders Forum in the first place.
General Babangida and his political family are open for political dialogue and constructive engagement to all presidential candidates irrespective of where they come from, insofar the object of the dialogue borders on the unity and stability of the country.
He is still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and by implications, would be willing to help the party succeeds once the internal contradictions are sorted out.
“It should be understood that the idea being sold out that President Jonathan would serve one term as a precondition for getting the Northern support is non-applicable.
“By law, if President Goodluck Jonathan gets re-elected, he would be statute-barred from contesting in 2015 having been sworn-in twice. General Ibrahim Babangida remains passionate about one Nigeria and would go to any extent to sustain that idea,” the statement from Babangida said
ABUJA, Feb 22, 2011 (THEWILL)
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